1 The Taskforce on Assurance for Families with Persons with Disabilities was announced by Prime Minister Mr Lawrence Wong, at the opening of the Enabling Village Vista cum 10th Anniversary Celebrations today. The Taskforce will complement the Enabling Masterplan 2030 (EMP2030) by adopting a life-course and family-centric perspective to develop recommendations that provide greater opportunities and assurance to persons with disabilities and their families.
2 Minister for Social and Family Development, Mr Masagos Zulkifli, has appointed a five-member inter-ministry Taskforce, chaired by Mr Goh Pei Ming, Minister of State for Social and Family Development. The members comprise:
Ms Rahayu Mahzam, Minister of State for Health and Digital Development and Information;
Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development and Law;
Mr Shawn Huang, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower and Finance: and
Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and National Development.
3 EMP2030 envisions Singapore as an inclusive society, where persons with disabilities are empowered to fulfil their aspirations and realise their fullest potential. Through engagements under EMP2030 and the Forward Singapore exercise, persons with disabilities, their families and sector professionals have shared concerns and aspirations across areas such as employment, affordability and independent living. These concerns underscore a need to strengthen support through the life stages of persons with disabilities and their families.
Key Areas of Focus
4 The Taskforce will study and develop recommendations in three areas:
Employment - The Taskforce will examine how to better support persons with disabilities in a fast-changing employment landscape, including through upskilling, reskilling and expanding the range of employment opportunities. It will also look at how to further strengthen support for employers and build resilience for persons with disabilities in the workplace.
Community Living - The Taskforce will consider ways to strengthen community-based supports for persons with disabilities. This includes improving access to healthcare, care planning and sustained support for families, and enabling persons with disabilities to live in the community.
Affordability - The Taskforce will study the financial costs borne by persons with disabilities and their families, and recommend ways to keep disability support services affordable.
5 As part of efforts to build a more inclusive society, the Taskforce will also examine how to galvanise stronger support from corporates, community partners, and the public to foster greater societal acceptance and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
6 Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Social and Family Development said, “Through our engagements under EMP2030 and Forward SG, we have heard from persons with disabilities and their caregivers about their concerns and aspirations across stages of life. By adopting a family-centric and life-course lens, the Taskforce aims to strengthen further support for families and their persons with disabilities and shape a more inclusive society. One where persons with disabilities can participate meaningfully, and their families feel supported and assured. This reflects our 'We-First' ethos – where we uplift one another and create opportunities for everyone to contribute and thrive.”
7 Mr Goh Pei Ming, Minister of State for Social and Family Development and Chairperson of the Taskforce said: “Persons with disabilities and their caregivers have shared their views around affordability, sustained and meaningful employment, as well as better support and acceptance in the community. These are real pressures that families navigate daily and addressing them will be the priorities for the Taskforce. We will consult closely with persons with disabilities, caregivers, corporates and community partners to co-create practical solutions. Together, we can build a more disability-inclusive society, one where persons with disabilities can live with dignity and confidence, and where families feel supported at every turn.”
8 The Taskforce will conduct a series of engagements including social service agencies, persons with disabilities, caregivers, and key stakeholders, and make their recommendations in 2026.
ISSUED BY
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT